Salary

The base salary of a food server is very low. Some restaurants actually pay below the hourly minimum wage level. In exchange, they allow the staff to keep the tips that diners give their servers. Restaurants that have a wealthier clientele and more expensive menus may pay a higher hourly rate. In 2006, the average hourly wage for waiters and waitresses was $7.46 an hour, but some made as much as $13.56 an hour.

While the majority of jobs waiting tables do not provide medical or retirement benefits, they may offer different perks, such as free or discounted meals.